Venetian blind slat



June El, 193..

C. ELLIS HELEN VENETIAN BLIND SLAT Filed Jan. 9, 1957 Patented June 2l, 1938 VENETIAN LIND SMT Carleton Ellis, Montclair, N. .1., assigner to lEllis- Fostei' Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application `lanuary 9, 1937, Serial No. 119,769

4 Ulaims.

This invention relates to a Venetian blind slat .or to the complete Venetian blind structure preferably largely or entirely composed of material shaped from la plastic composition comprising, for example, a resinous binding agent preferably of the thermosetting type, the slats of the blind having reenforcing members preferably in the form of thickened edges and preferably of a nondust collecting character whereby not only is sagging of the slat prevented,at least to a substantial degree, but at the same time the accumulation of dust on the slat to an objectionable extent is largely prevented. l

The usual form of Venetian blind slat is that made `of wood whereas in' the present instance it is proposed to form such slats of a plastic composition, as noted above.

When' a plastic composition is pressed inthe form of a ilat slat I have noted a certain amount 20 of warping or sagging occurs which I propose to avoid in the present instance by the formation on the slat, preferably during the shaping or molding operation, of reenforcing members preferably in the form of thickened edges which may be made by folding the stock over on itself along the entire edge and for a short distance toward the center or median line of the slat and thereupon pressing the composition preferably sufilciently to cause the thickened edges to merge with the slat structure prepared whereby a tapercd effect is obtained giving a normal thinness or thickness to the'slat throughout the central part but with edges which have the reenforcing effect as noted.

Thus a slat may be made `by taking laminated paper material which has been impregnated with a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin, preferably however one of the thermosetting type, and folding the edges over for a half inch or an inch or so during that condition of plasticity prior to molding or curing the material, as the case may be, to its iinal form.

As stock for the purpose of making aforesaid slats I prefer to impregnate paper with the resinous binder or other binding material suiiiciently to introduce perhaps from 20 to 50 per cent or so 'of the binder. The edges are then folded over and the composition pressed to consolidate the entire slat and to force the edges at the point where they terminate in contact with the main body of the slat into the composition of the latter to such an extent that a tapered surface is left at that point so that no projections exist which -serve to collect dust.

One advantage of the ordinary flat wood Slat is that if made from properly seasoned wood it does not sag or change in shape and dust may be removedv from it easily merely by dusting. If a Venetian blind slat is made from plastic material which has edges or corners likely-to collect dust, the removal of the latter by dusting is freq uently more diflicult. Therefore I prefer to make a slat in accordance with my invention which is substantially free from any rough dust-collecting surfaces.

Various modifications of thickened edges will also be apparent now that the problem is thus set forth. For example, instead of thickening both edges as indicated, or in any other suitable manner, I may thicken only one edge or may roll the sheet while still plastic in the form of a cylindrical roll at either the `top or the bottom edge, the top edge being preferable since it may be dusted to better advantage in manyv casesA Another feature of my invention is to make slats of transparent material without any filling agent as, for example, by using slats of this general character made from acrylic resin. e. g., polymerized methyl methacrylate material so that virtually a transparent slat is obtained which will admit a maximum of light and yet owing to the reflection of light from the exterior will not reveal the interior to an objectionable degree. Such transparent or translucent slats may be made in accordance with this invention to avoid any dust-collecting projections.

As an example of a composition containing a filler I may take a thermosetting resin, for example one of the phenol-aldehyde type, preferably a phenol-acetaldehyde resin, dissolving this in a solvent such as alcohol and impregneting a thick sheet of absorbent paper therewith. The impregnated sheet may then be folded or rolled as desired, shaped, placed in a mold and hotpressed to cause at least preliminary hardening. In some cases simple hot pressing is all that is necessary whereas in other instances the slat may be removed from the mold and subsequently baked in an oven at a moderate temperature to v complete the chemical change constituting curing. If any trouble is experienced in warpage of the slat during any subsequent baking operation it is desirable to keep such slat in the mold 'for a period long enough to avoid any change in shape or trueness or for such period as may be necessary to prevent warping thereof. For this purpose I'prefer to use relatively light and comparatively thin molds which, if desired, may be made'from sheet steel bent to the proper condition required by the mold.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of Va. section of a Venetian blind embodying the invention and Fig. 2- is a similar view but showing the blind in a tilted position. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of slat shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 4-10 are sectional transverse views of modified forms of edge-reinforced non-dustcollecting slats herein described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a plurality of blind slats (l) are carried and supported by tapes (2) and each is provided with openings (3) for cords (4) to operate the blind, all in a conventional manner. The slats are composed of laminated paper stock (5) ,impregnated with a synthetic resin as described, and formed with folded-over thickened or reinforced edges (B). The edges may be folded on the same side as in Figs. 1-3, or on opposite sides as in Figs. 4, 7 and 8. Also, only one edge may be folded over as in Fig. 5, if desired. The folded reinforcing may be fiat-tapered as shown in Figs. 3-l-7, or may form a cylindrical roll which may have a hollow ('I) as inFig. 10. Furthermore, as shown in v Figs. 8 and 9, the edges may be folded over and compressed to consolidate the entire slat and to force the folded-over edges at the point of contact with the slat body into the composition of the latter to such an extent that a non-dust-collecting surface results at that point.

What I claim is:

1. A Venetian blind slat composed of plastic material comprising a resin of the thermosetting type incorporated with a filler; said slat having reenforcing members in the form of thickened edges or a non-dust collecting character whereby sagging and the accumulation of dust are substantially prevented.

`2. A Venetian blind slat composed of plastic material comprising a resin incorporated with a filler; said slat having reenforcing members in the form of thickened edges of a non-dust collecting character whereby sagging and the accumulation of dust are substantially prevented.

3. A Venetian blind slat composed of plasticl 

